Herlings Dominates Uddevalla as Coenen Wins MX2
The MXGP of Sweden delivered exactly what a hard-fought motocross weekend should: brutal track conditions, packed grandstands, high-speed battles and two riders who found another level when it mattered most.
At Glimminge Motorstadion near Uddevalla, more than 28,000 fans packed the rocky Swedish circuit, creating one of the loudest atmospheres of the MXGP season.
But beneath the spectacle was a technical battle for grip.
More sunshine baked the hardpack into a slick, unforgiving surface, forcing riders to balance aggression with precision. On this track, twisting the throttle harder did not necessarily mean going faster.
Jeffrey Herlings understood that better than anyone.
Herlings Turns Control Into Domination
Herlings arrived at Uddevalla and proceeded to own the weekend.
The Honda HRC Petronas rider topped every session, won both MXGP races and extended his remarkable run to 11 consecutive race victories, including qualifying races.
It was also his first Sunday MXGP race wins at the Swedish venue.
Race one was the clearest demonstration of his speed. Herlings immediately moved through the opening exchanges before establishing control at the front. While Pauls Jonass and Tom Vialle fought behind him, Herlings steadily disappeared.
Then came the statement.
On the final lap, Herlings recorded a 1:49.587, around two seconds faster than anyone else had managed during the race. He crossed the line more than 21 seconds ahead of Jonass.
Race two required a different approach.
After starting third, Herlings wasted little time. He passed Tim Gajser and then Romain Febvre within the opening half-lap to take control.
From there, he managed the race rather than attacking every corner.
That distinction mattered on a track where one mistake could end a rider’s day.
Herlings eventually won by more than six seconds, completing a perfect 50-point weekend.
The result moved his championship advantage over Febvre to 116 points, with 735 points to his rival’s 619.
“We won every session, led every lap and won both races, so I am super happy.”
— Jeffrey Herlings
Febvre and Vialle Fight Through the Hardpack
Romain Febvre produced a determined weekend to finish second overall with 40 points.
His first race was particularly demanding. After losing positions early, Febvre became locked behind Andrea Adamo and spent much of the race searching for a way through.
He finally made the pass with two laps remaining.
Race two was cleaner. Febvre almost grabbed the holeshot and briefly led before Herlings made his move. He settled into second and maintained his pace to secure the overall runner-up position.
The result was also significant statistically: Febvre recorded the 200th top-three race finish of his career.
Tom Vialle completed the podium with 38 points after going 3-4.
The Frenchman had struggled during qualifying but found a better bike setup for Sunday. Despite getting boxed into difficult battles in race one and running wide early in race two, Vialle fought back strongly.
Coenen Finds His Way Back in MX2
The MX2 championship picture tightened considerably thanks to Sacha Coenen.
The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider delivered two race wins for a perfect 50-point score and claimed his first GP victory since Latvia.
His biggest challenge was not necessarily the track.
It was Liam Everts.
Everts stayed within striking distance throughout both races, repeatedly applying pressure without forcing an error from Coenen.
That patience was critical.
Coenen refused to buckle and controlled both races from the front, securing his eighth career GP victory and first-ever podium at Uddevalla.
“I did what I needed to do in both races.”
— Sacha Coenen
The result cut his championship deficit to Guillem Farres from 47 points before the weekend to just 24.
McLellan Keeps the Podium Streak Alive
South Africa‘s Camden McLellan continued his outstanding run in MX2.
The Triumph Racing Factory Team rider finished third in both races for another 40-point haul, extending his podium streak to four consecutive GPs.
It was his 10th career MX2 podium and strengthened his third position in the championship with 656 points.
McLellan admitted there was potentially more on the table, but his consistency remained the bigger positive.
“It is not over until it is really over,”.
he said after the weekend
That mentality could become increasingly important with only four GPs remaining.
Arnhem Awaits
The MXGP paddock now heads to the Netherlands for the MXGP of the Netherlands at Arnhem.
For Herlings, it is a home GP with a championship lead that has become increasingly difficult to challenge.
For MX2, however, the situation is far less settled.
Coenen is closing rapidly on Farres, McLellan remains firmly in the championship fight, and Arnhem’s deep sand could completely reshape the order.
After the slick Swedish hardpack demanded restraint, the Dutch sand will demand something different: fitness, momentum and relentless commitment.
The title fight is entering its final and potentially wildest phase.
